Stars of “A Dog’s Journey” on How the Film’s Themes of Redemption, Forgiveness, and Unconditional Love Impacted Them

May 15, 2019

“A Dog’s Journey” hits theaters this week and the film’s stars, Dennis Quaid, Marg Helgenberger and other cast members, talked of how the Christian-based themes of the film impacted them.

The sequel to the global hit “A Dog’s Purpose” once again shares the journey of beloved dog Bailey who is given a new purpose for the second installment.

“It’s real life, all the stages of life we go through,” lead actor Dennis Quaid told The Christian Post of the topics explored in “A Dog’s Journey.” “Dogs they look at us in a very nonjudgmental way and they remind us of what life is really about.”

“Bailey (voiced again by Josh Gad) is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his ‘boy,’ Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). He even has a new playmate: Ethan and Hannah’s baby granddaughter, CJ. The problem is that CJ’s mom, Gloria (Betty Gilpin), decides to take CJ away. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life for a new one, he makes a promise to Ethan to find CJ and protect her at any cost Thus begins Bailey’s adventure through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion as he, CJ (Kathryn Prescott), and CJ’s best friend Trent (Henry Lau) experience joy and heartbreak, music and laughter, and few really good belly rubs,” the film’s synopsis reads.

The film explores the difficult relationships between family and friends but with hopeful ends which are commonly expressed in Christianity.

“Honestly, I think the theme of redemption and forgiveness really resonated with me because I think forgiveness has to happen for a relationship to maintain itself and for a person to actually evolve. If that doesn’t happen, I think one can end their life with regrets. So that to me really resonated with me and I think most people,” longtime actress Helgenberger told CP of what impacted her the most.

“We all have our love for our pets but we have love for our families and our children and our childhood friends and there’s just so many things that people can relate to which is why I think it will have such an impact on on the viewers,” she continued.